Pregnant women to take vitamin D supplement

Researchers at University College London have said that women expecting a baby should be advised to take vitamin D tablets.

The researchers, from the university's Institute of Child Health, said official advice about supplements varied.

The team, who wrote up their research in the British Journal of Nutrition, said there was a "strong case" for pregnant women to take a vitamin D supplement every day.

The Department of Health's current advise is that pregnant women should ensure that they are receiving 10 micrograms of vitamin D every day.

The team said that this supported the intake of supplements as food and sunlight would not provide adequate quantities of the vitamin.

However, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence said it did not condone the use of supplements.

Dr Elina Hypponen, co-author of the paper, said: "The incidence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women in Britain is unacceptably high, especially during winter and spring. This is compounded by a lack of exposure to sunlight and the limitations of an average diet to meet the optimal need."

"We believe that the routine provision of a daily supplement throughout pregnancy would significantly decrease the number of mothers who are clearly vitamin D deficient, reducing related serious risks to their babies."